Joey Barton Faces £600,000 Defamation Bill After Libel Case

Former footballer Joey Barton has incurred a total financial penalty of £600,000 following a defamation case brought against him by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine. Barton labelled Vine a paedophile in a series of derogatory social media posts, prompting legal action from the broadcaster.

Vine, who is 60 years old, took Barton to court after the ex-Newcastle United player referred to him as a “bike nonce” on various online platforms. In June 2023, Vine won the case, resulting in Barton being ordered to pay £75,000 in damages. This amount was later accompanied by an additional £35,000 as part of a separate settlement related to other defamatory claims.

Legal Costs and Consequences

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show, Vine revealed that the total cost incurred by Barton reached £600,000. This figure includes the reimbursement of Vine’s legal expenses accrued throughout the proceedings. Vine explained, “At the beginning, I thought, ‘this is libel, I’m going to go as far as I can’. The costs racked up and then I won, he apologised, although in a very churlish way – dropped an apology on Twitter 10 minutes before the election result last year, so he knew that I would have my mind on other things.”

Vine further noted that Barton initially refused to cover the legal costs, prompting Vine to pursue a separate case regarding the expenses. As Vine detailed, “So the cost to him all up in my case was £600,000.”

Broader Implications and Social Media Concerns

Just weeks ago, Barton received a six-month suspended prison term for posting “grossly offensive” material on social media that targeted Vine as well as football analysts Lucy Ward and Eni Aluko. Vine expressed that he had not fully considered the potential legal ramifications when he decided to pursue libel proceedings, admitting that Barton’s messages could have endangered his safety.

He stated, “It only needs one person with a knife and, genuinely, what Barton said about me will have put me in danger, without any question at all.”

Vine also criticized social media, likening the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to “a cancer.” He recounted a listener’s poignant remark, stating, “One of my listeners rang the other day, and this is a comment I think I’m going to remember for the rest of my life, he said: ‘The thing is, social media is the new asbestos, and in 20 years’ time, they’re going to be ripping it out of walls and ceilings’. And that’s so true.”

The fallout from this case highlights the ongoing discussions about the responsibility of individuals on social media and the far-reaching consequences of defamatory statements. As the legal implications for Barton unfold, the case serves as a significant reminder of the potential dangers associated with online platforms.